School Social Work and the Educational Justice Movement: A Snapshot of Practice

Abstract

Educational disparities and disproportionalities for oppressed children signal the need for an educational justice movement that focuses on macro-level changes within and outside of the educational system. School social workers are uniquely trained to engage in activities that promote educational justice, yet most school social workers focus on micro-level practice with individuals. Drawing on Teasley’s practice recommendations to improve educational outcomes for African American urban youths, this study examined the extent to which school social workers engage in macro-level practice strategies that promote educational justice. Cross-sectional survey data were collected from 112 school social workers. Results indicated that most participants reported little engagement in macro-level practice in support of educational justice, most notably in relation to leadership and public policy advocacy and school choice. Social workers reported the most engagement in areas associated with typical practice, such as family engagement and schoolwide needs assessment. Implications for school social work training, practice, and future research are discussed.